JEDDAH, 20 October 2007 — An Egyptian died and 19 others were injured yesterday when a bus carrying 45 passengers overturned in Abawa, near Rabigh.
Capt. Abdullah Al-Amri, spokesman for the Civil Defense in the Makkah region, told Arab News that the passengers were all pilgrims traveling from Madinah to Makkah.
He said the Civil Defense had sent three rescue teams to free passengers trapped inside the wreckage.
Al-Amir said the 19 injured included 10 Egyptians, five Sudanese and four Saudis. He added that the Saudi Red Crescent took the injured to Rabigh General Hospital.
Meanwhile, three people died and 42 others, including women and children, were injured in a fire at a wedding hall in Dawadmi, near Riyadh.
Capt. Abdullah Al-Qafari, spokesman of the Civil Defense in Riyadh, said the three people died as a result of a stampede following the fire. All of the injured except one have left hospital after receiving treatment. The Civil Defense is currently investigation the cause of the fire.
